NATO–EU Strategic Priority: Space Security & Resilience
The strategic environment of the twenty-first century has decisively transformed space from a passive enabler of terrestrial activities into an active and contested domain of geopolitical significance. As NATO, the European Union, and their respective member states expand their reliance on space-based capabilities for secure communications, intelligence gathering, navigation, missile warning, and situational awareness, the vulnerability of these systems to deliberate disruption has become a central concern. Technological advances have enabled both state and non-state actors to develop and deploy counter-space capabilities, including anti-satellite missiles, electronic warfare tools, cyber intrusion methods, and kinetic or co-orbital systems that threaten the integrity, availability, and continuity of space services. Recent conflicts have underscored the operational relevance of these threats: in theatres such as Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, space-based infrastructure has proven not only a force multiplier but also a target. Within the Euro-Atlantic area, the resilience of space systems is no longer viewed merely as a technical issue but rather as a precondition for political decision-making autonomy, strategic deterrence, and continuity of operations across all military domains. Consequently, allied institutions have adopted new doctrines, designated space as an operational domain, and initiated collaborative investment in situational awareness, satellite communications, secure launch capabilities, and rapid reconstitution mechanisms. The emerging consensus holds that space security must be achieved through a combination of sovereign capability development, coordinated regulatory frameworks, industrial consolidation, and robust engagement with commercial providers. In this context, protecting access to and use of space has become both a matter of national sovereignty and a shared imperative for collective defence and resilience.
This report offers a structured and in-depth analysis of the strategic priority of Space Security and Resilience as defined by NATO, the European Union, and aligned national authorities. The report is designed to clarify how the political urgency of this priority has been operationalized and implemented through institutional, technical, and industrial mechanisms. It is organized into six interlinked sections that follow a logical progression from high-level strategic intent to concrete tactical and capability outcomes. The first section establishes the strategic rationale by tracing the evolution of political and doctrinal perspectives on space as a security domain, identifying the key threat vectors and institutional drivers of change. The second examines how operational integration is taking place across NATO and EU planning frameworks, command structures, and joint exercises, highlighting the role of space support in multidomain operations. The third section focuses on tactical capability requirements, assessing the specifications and interoperability criteria for situational awareness, satellite communications, anti-jamming measures, and rapid launch capabilities. The fourth reviews the administrative and regulatory instruments that underpin implementation, including procurement policies, industrial funding schemes, and standardization efforts. The fifth identifies structural and strategic bottlenecks such as industrial fragmentation, supply chain dependencies, and limitations in launch infrastructure. The final section considers the implications for industry, technology development, research institutions, and capital flows, emphasizing the need for coordinated investment, innovation ecosystems, and resilience-oriented public-private partnerships. Through this structure, the report aims to provide a coherent and actionable overview of how the space domain is being secured and made resilient within the broader context of allied defence planning.